The European Union is not a unified actor in the High North. The interests of those member states showing any involvement often point in different directions. The existence of the Northern Dimension does not alter this general picture. This Work Package will focus on the potential for a more unified and integrated European Union High North policy. Emphasis will be on the management and exploitation of natural resources, on traditional security and on issues of jurisdiction.

Due to its key role in European processes relevant to this programme, special attention will be paid to the evolution of German attitudes and policies. Some Norwegian observers have claimed that Germany is the sole major European power that can be expected to sympathise with Norway were unsolved issues of jurisdiction to become acute. This being said, other European countries have also declared their interests in the High North. The Work Package will include three major projects:

• The potential role for EU energy policy of the High North as an energy province, bearing in mind the current preponderance of national interests of individual EU states over common Union position

• EU member states’ policy on legal issues in the High North, and the prospects for the establishment of a common EU position. Particular focus will be paid to the fishery protection zone and the continental shelf around Svalbard. This project will be closely linked to the work undertaken in Work Package 6.

• The evolution of EU and individual EU member states’ perception of the military security relevance of the High North, and the potential for dialogue between Norway and the EU and individual member states.

Participants:

• Dr Bettina Rudloff (SWP)
• Antje Neumann (SWP)
• Prof Dag Harald Claes (UiO)
• Prof Per Christiansen (UiT)
• Dr Claudia Major (SWP)
• Dr Sarah Wolf
• Senior Fellow Kåre Dahl Martinsen (IFS)
• Research Fellow Kristine Offerdal (IFS)
• Prof Clive Archer (MMU)
• Dr Eirik Mikkelsen (NORUT)
• Dr Erik Molenaar (NILOS)